A Biography of Sidney Poitier

In 1967, a twinge conference with Sidney Poitier, at that time hotshot of the most successful and favourite American actors and certainly the most famous black actor, turned from his more places on screen and stage and became something else finishedly.Due to a rash of racial riots crossways the nation at that time, Poitier was asked spotlighted questions concerning whether or not he was in elevate of the racial riots, his theories on segregation, and other racially oriented topics (Goudsouzian).It was at that point that something happened which changed the course of Poitiers life as well as the role of African-Americans everywhere- rather than avoid the question, turn the focus back to his fame or beleaguer off in a rage, Poitier came to the realization that it was impossible for him to separate his military position as an entertainment icon from his obligation to use his fame to advance the motion of minority rights in America. Since then, Poitier has done just that.Thi s research will discourse Aram Goudsouzians pivotal 2004 biography of Sidney Poitier, not only as a review of this book, but also in an effort to try to wagerer understand how and wherefore Poitier has become one of the most influential African Americans since the end of Civil War.Authors PurposeWhen gaining a better understanding of why Goudsouzian chose Poitier as the subject of his book, one not only gains an understanding of the origins purpose in writing the book, but also a grasp of the major social and historical get laids that are tackled through a book which is biographical at its core, but becomes a lot more terrific as it unfolds.First, one must realize that Goudsouzian is not a biographer by nature, but in fact is a history writer, which is why Poitier was chosen as the subject of the book.By choosing a pivotal historic African-American who tie the gap between the faade of Hollywood and the real world of the urban streets of the nation, Goudsouzian has been able to tell not only the story of the struggles of an ambitious African-American man coming of age in the racially charged mid-fifties and 1960s, but also of a man who parlayed his fame not into a unstained vehicle for his own enrichment, but to try to aid and support his entire race.Goudsouzians Central ThemeEarlier, the point was make that Goudsouzians book is much more than biography or history, but is rather a sizable combination of the two. Looking beyond this assertion, it is also interesting to explore the cardinal theme of the book, which can fairly be identified in one word-perseverance.For Poitier, perseverance has meant the constant jumping of hurdles, placed in front of him by a society which still wrestles with the issue of equality for African-Americans, even decades by and by the strife which advanced African-Americans significantly, and almost a century and a fractional after a bloody Civil War which settled the issue of African-American freedom once and for all. F or African-Americans in general, it would seem that Goudsouzian paints perseverance as a struggle to gain equal footing with the mainstream of America.This being said, however, a fair critique of Goudsouzians approach is in order. It would seem that the beginning is too quick to always portray Poitier, and African-Americans as perpetual underdogs who neer gain any significant ground.However, in truth, much progress has been made in cause of racial equality, while keeping in creative thinker of course that there is much progress yet to come. Goudsouzian could have presented a bit more of a balance in his contrast.